The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-29

lLob uTdWlIE Uneur nreS, would promise
them, if they thought it unsafe to remain
on the engines, to see to it that their posi-
tlons would be open for them at any time.
COAL HANDLERS WALK OUT.
Over 700 coal handlers left the yard and
the leaders said that they had obeyed an
order to strike, and the Superintendent said
they had gone home on account of the rain
and intended to come back again. This has
been the situation all the afternoon, the
statements of the men and the representa-
tons of the company being exactly
opposed to each other as to the status of the
present difficulty. At the time tine coal
handlers quit there were ten steam colliers,
SIX barges, five sailing vessels and ten
other boats lying at the Port Richmond
wharves waiting for cargoes of coal.
sUPT KEM's STATEMENT.
Supt. Keim denies that there is strike,
and while there was no trouble of any kind
during the day the company sent for addi-
tional police and obtained the services of
fifty uniformed men. 1t has in addition to
these, it is said, 800 Pinkerton detectives
and private policemen scattered around
the coal piles and vicinity. The
reason for this action was fear that
some damage to property might he at
tempted. The men assert that there is no
excuse for sending the policemen, and they
say that they are as anxious as the company
that no property shall be damaged,
TEN CREWS DISCHARGED.
1t was learned this afternoon that the
crews of each of the ton Reading steam
collieries had been discharged for insubordi-
nation. Two crews were discharged yes
terday, and the others have received notice
since. The insubordination is said TO con-
sist Of violation of the shipping articles in
refusing to take vessels out when ordered TO
do so. Each crew numbered fifteen mon or
$50 in all. Their places have not yet been
filed
All along the Reading lines in this city,
running into their different stations, trains
seem to be running as usual, and to casual
observer no indication of trouble would ap-
pear. The men themselves are so reticent
about the strike and the causes which
brought it on that information is difficult
to obtain.
NO GENERAL QUIT
With the exception of the coal handlers
at Port Richmond there does not appear to
be any trouble and diligent inquiry has
failed to reveal the true situation, and al
though the order for the strike is generally
believed to have been issued by John l..
Lee, chairman of the Executive Committee
of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad
Employees Convention, even this material
pOluL CdllHOb DC ueunlLely learned, Inc
trouble seems to bear with it cloud of mys-
terry which cannot so far be penetrated.
Chairman Lee has been in Pottsville
for two days past aud the
order for the strike is said
to have been sent to him from this city
last night by a special messenger, the identity
of whom has not been made known. A
meeting of the Port Richmond Coal Hand
lers Loca: Assembly, No $685. Knights of
Labor, was held this afternoon after the
cessation Of work and much enthusiasm is
said to have been manifested.
WHAT THEY WERE TOLD
IL was reported that the men were on
strike, that the strike order was intended to
become general and that the real struggle
with the company was about to begin 1t
was also reported that the stevedores doing
work at the Port Richmond piers and be-
longing to local assembly No. 1902 were
or a strike, and intended to remain firm
with the coal handlers Until the close of
the day work was continued at the Willow
street wharf and along that street TO Broad
Dispatcher Goodman said at d O'Clock that
freight had been moved regularly all
day. All the men who resumed after
the strike on Tuesday continued to work as
usual and professed to have no knowledge
of the new order to strike. About seventy
men were employed az the freight platforms
and there were no new or non. union men
among them. Mr. Goodman said that he
had been told by number of men during
the day that if there was another order to
strike they would probably not obeyit. Some
of the men expressed themselves as anxious
not to be involved in any more trouble.
A REWARD OFFERED.
The following notice was posted at the
Willow street wharf Office tonight:
A reward of 81 900 will be paid any person. or
persons who will furnish evidence which will
lead to the arrest and conviction Of any person,
or persons guilty OF violence TO the company's
employees, or its property. J. A. SwrEGAaD,
General Superintendent
ALL THE COAL AT T1DEwATER.
READING, Pa, Dec. 2s, 0 p. Me was
learned at the office of the Reading Rail
road Company, in this city this evening,
that the work of clearing the sidings of coal
cars had been finished, and that any coal
hauled to tide water on and after to-fnoI-
row, would have 10 be mined in the collier
les, some of which, however, are idle. The
officials here do not apprehend any great
difficulty with the miners on the ground
that with them, as with the railroaders, the
present strike has caused division
OF sentiment on the subject of
striking. 1t Is estimated that 800 TO 800
employees Of the Reading railroad along the
euJlTe line nave lOSb lHSlI poSlbiOIiS DeCduSo
they had either refused to obey the com
pany's orders or had helped to foment and
encourage the strike Fully so per cent. of
the crews passing through this city are new
men.
A convention of the Reading railroad em-
ployes has been called to meet here to NOR
row. 1t is expected that there will be
greater division of sentiment in this con-
vention than for some years past ON the
question of pursuing active and aggressive
measures against the company.
BOTH SIDES TO BE HEARD.
Some of the prominent labor leaders dis
charged in Philadelphia will be present and
present their side Of the case. Delegates
from Reading and other places along the
road who have refused TO participate in the
strike will urge quiet submission at this
time, while there are others, particu-
larry from the coal regions
and Port Richmond, who say
that they will advocate fighting
it out and paying the company for what
they look upon as unfair dealing. From
all the indications the coal miners will con-
troll the convention, and it will be decided
tomorrow as to whether or not they will
strike. This afternoon nearly 200 coal and
freight engineers, brakemen and fremen
were called to Reading, paid off and dis
charged for tho part they took in the strike.
THE SITUATION AT sHAMoKIN.
SHAMoKIN, PA, Dec. 2S.--The Reading
railroad knights of Labor here are still out,
and declare that they will not return to
work until their discharged associates at
this place arc. rcinstated. Three train
crews, non-union men, are at work, but